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Sunday, June 24, 2007
Met Chicken Feathers, a retired Hiker that does maintenance on the trail; his way of giving back. He was hiking with 3 others from Georgia out for a few days. When we got to Neils Gap, he paid for my room for the night. Other people have done things like this for me, and I get overwhelmed when they do. If we could truly unite, there isn't anything we couldn't do. I do believe there once was a time.
Monday, June 25, 2007
At Neils Gap, they took a picture of my feet to put up on the wall with our web site. Left there around 9am thru thunderstorm. Met a couple; her brother was in the USMC on embassy duty. The man's brother was in the USMC and had hurt his shoulder. He wasn't deployed wit hi friends and spent 3 months in a military hospital and finally snuck out to a regular hospital to get it fixed. Because of that, he had to sign waivers and has been treated poorly and now is depressed over it. The man said it's not like your story, but still it is another story where the right thing isn't being done. He also realizes he has sat on his hands and done nothing. Sometimes all I need is a little guidance on something I can do to make a difference. Sometimes I don't know what the right thing to do is, but if I at least try something, I am headed in the right direction and will figure it out.
Met another Vet (Army) who was so apathetic saying we couldn't change it, it's been going on for years, I said so what. That doesn't make it right. Then he made like it wasn't his job because he served. I say if I know better shouldn't I do something too?
Made it to a shelter through a thunderstorm after tearing the top of one of my toes on a rock. Boy that smarts.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Did an easy 7 miles. I am only 7.6 miles from Springer where I will meet some media people on the 28th, so I will take it easy. Met day hikers and a trail volunteer. At Hawk Mt. Shelter, I met some Mormon Scout hikers and spent the night with them. They way over-packed on food, so I ate well. It was their first hike, so they learned a lot about what to take and what not to take. Got hold of the camera crew who said to stay put so they could walk the last section with me.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The scouts left, so I took a nap. Then woke up when Lynn Chatman came in (my eye was swollen from a bug bite last night). We talked awhile (his trail name is Chit-chat); he is walking for multiple sclerosis and the military. He has been on Montel and said he would talk to him for me. Lynn's web site. is The Art of Living With MS. He was also a minister. We talked about taking credit; I said who should get the credit, the author or the pen and paper (for the book) he used to write?
My Posse showed up around 7pm and we decided to start 9am tomorrow and go 3.5 miles to three forks, then to Neil's Gap to see me in a shelter. After they left I talked to Mike (the youngest of the family) who was there with his father, brother and sister. He has a good head on his shoulders and is working to get a car. His father used to run Zenith and now has a small sigh business, he said he had 3,000 employees and now he has trouble finding 5 people to work for him.
Meet Lynn Chatman (Chit Chat) who is walking for Multiple Syrousus and Vets, he has been on Montel and said he would see what he could do to get us on his show. He told me his wife has M.S. then decided to call her from the shelter, which he did and when she answered she said, "What are you calling for!" I laughed, said it sounds like she really misses you.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
9am my Posse showed up, said my good byes to the family and we left. We went 3 1/2 miles to three forks, talking, getting shots and interviews. We back tracked (by Van) to Neil's Gap so they could shoot me in a Hostel and we spent the night. I talked to a few of the patrons, one couple in particular who looked at me funny till they found out who I was, she said she read bout me, I asked, did you write, she said no, so I asked her to stick out her hand, she did, then I smacked it, then I said now are you going to write, she said yes, I said good I don't want to have to do this again.
Friday, June 29, 2007
We went back to Three Forks and walked to Springer Mt., got caught in a down pour, the whole crew got soaked ( but me, I was prepared). When we got to Springer I yelled, kissed the placket and wrote in the registry. THEN I KNELT IN PRAYER AND THANKED God that he/she allowed me to be his tool and that I could continue to be her tool. We went back to the Springer Mt shelter with Mandolin who had heard me yell and ran to the Mt. to see what happened. We talked and he told me he had read that in WWII 65% of the casualties where civilians, now it is at least 90% or more ( in a book written by Zien, "Just War").
My posse camped out with me filming me go to sleep, brush my teeth, everything but go to the bathroom; I think? We played with the camp fire for hours (it rained pretty hard so everything was very wet).
Saturday, June 30, 2007
We drove into Dahlonega and they had me hike into the town, on the walk in there where white crosses set up about every 20 yards with the name of a serviceman on each cross and what war they died in. After they filmed it they asked me how I felt and I said sad and angry. Sad that they died and angry that is how they honored the dead when the dead would want me to take care of there brothers in arms who are alive and I can help. That is how I chose to honor the dead, by honoring the living in a way that helps them.
My Posse gave me a ride to Amacolla Falls about 6 or 7pm, after we said our Good Byes.
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